Excavations at the Mycenaean Cemetery at Aigion – 1967 : Rescue Excavations by the Late Ephor of Antiquities, E. Mastrokostas

In this monograph the authors present the finds of four Mycenaean chamber tombs, from the rescue excavation of Ephor Mastrokostas at Aigion in 1967. Unfortunately, no diary or any other information, regarding the architecture or the burial customs, was found. However, it is highly possible that they were similar to eleven tombs which were systematically excavated by Papadopoulos in 1970. In contrast with them, the four tombs produced a much greater number of finds, indicating richer burials. Furthermore, some of these finds are unique (e.g. “thronos”-straight-sided alabastron with unusual paneled decoration), rare (e.g. askoi) and exceptional (e.g. cylindrical stirrup jars) in the Achaean Mycenaean ceramic repertory, while the total absence of terracotta figurines as well as the rarity of small objects is surprising. Taken together the excavated tombs make a total of 15, but the actual number may be greater. It is noteworthy that the material is stylistically different and generally earlier from that of western Achaea. The supplementary information, provided by this publication, strengthens the evidence that this important Achaean cemetery was used for a long time (LHII-IIIC) and that the inhabitants had connections with the Argolid as well as with other areas to the east, especially with the Dodecanese. Table of Contents Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction The Tombs and Their Contents Catalogue – Description of Finds Tomb A Tomb B Tomb C (3) Tomb D (4) Unprovenanced Tomb Commentary on The Finds General Comments and Conclusions Bibliography Plates and Figures In this monograph the authors present the finds of four Mycenaean chamber tombs, from the rescue excavation of Ephor Mastrokostas at Aigion in 1967. Unfortunately, no diary or any other information, regarding the architecture or the burial customs, was found. However, it is highly possible that they were similar to eleven tombs which were systematically excavated by Papadopoulos in 1970. In contrast with them, the four tombs produced a much greater number of finds, indicating richer burials. Furthermore, some of these finds are unique (e.g. “thronos”-straight-sided alabastron with unusual paneled decoration), rare (e.g. askoi) and exceptional (e.g. cylindrical stirrup jars) in the Achaean Mycenaean ceramic repertory, while the total absence of terracotta figurines as well as the rarity of small objects is surprising. Taken together the excavated tombs make a total of 15, but the actual number may be greater. It is noteworthy that the material is stylistically different and generally earlier from that of western Achaea. The supplementary information, provided by this publication, strengthens the evidence that this important Achaean cemetery was used for a long time ( LHII-IIIC) and that the inhabitants had connections with the Argolid as well as with other areas to the east, especially with the Dodecanese. Cover 1 Copyright Information 2 Dedication 3 CONTENTS 5 List of Plates and Figures 7 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 9 INTRODUCTION 11 THE TOMBS AND THEIR CONTENTS 15 CATALOGUE – DESCRIPTION OF FINDS 17 TOMB A 17 TOMB B 23 TOMB Γ (3) 26 TOMB D (4) 33 UNPROVENANCED TOMB 45 Pottery sherds with no inventory numbers 48 COMMENTARY ON THE FINDS 51 I. The Mycenaean pottery 51 A. CLOSED SHAPES 51 2. Piriform jar 53 3. Rounded alabastron 54 4. Square-sided alabastron 54 5. Amphoriskos 55 6. Globular Jug 56 7. Lekythos 57 8. Askos 57 B. OPEN SHAPES 58 10. Stemmed bowl (?) 58 9. Krater (?) 58 11. Kylix 59 12. Shallow cup 60 13. Spouted deep cup 60 14. Throne model 61 C. Other finds 61 GENERAL COMMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS 63 ABBREVIATIONS 65 I. For Periodicals and Series 65 II. Special Abbreviations 65 III. Descriptive terms used in the catalogue of finds 67 BIBLIOGRAPHY 69 PLATES AND FIGURES 71 Back Cover 133 Rescue Excavations,Mycenaean,Cemetery,Burial,Ceramics